UConn completes dominant run, wins fifth national title

HOUSTON -- UConn assistant coach Tom Moore embraced guard Tristen Newton in a big hug as he walked toward the bench. Dan Hurley high-fived his players as they jogged off the floor. The Huskies' fan section was the loudest it had been all night.

It wasn't the end of the game. It wasn't even the end of the first half. There was still 2:55 left in the first half, but the Huskies had opened up a 16-point lead on San Diego State and had all the momentum.

At that point, the final outcome seemed decided and the second half, for all intents and purposes, looked to be a coronation. San Diego State did cut UConn's lead all the way down to five -- but UConn promptly responded with a knockout punch to…